The whole JLNC base was silent that morning.
It was a once-in-a-while opportunity of having all seven players of the team in one place, but their expressions and moods made the atmosphere very gloomy.
"Guys, listen to me," Bright called their attention and they only looked up for a moment before lowering their eyes again
"I know we lost one game, but it's just one game, we still have another game." Bright said
"They mocked us," Quant said bitterly while frowning
"And so, are you going to sulk because of it?" Dewy asked them and they lift their eyes to look at him for a moment but they lowered them back again
"Nicolas, what is the law of the gaming industry?" Dewy asked Rasheed
"In e-sports, being weak is a sin," Rasheed said with a dull expression
"Are you guys going to commit that sin?" Bright asked them
"No," Key said in a tone that was similar to Rasheed's
"Don't let their words affect you, we'll get back on our feet. Okay?" Dewy told them with a calm expression and warm smile
"For now, we will improve our coordination. One of the things I noticed in our recent match is that we lacked coordination." Bright said
"Why?" He asked them, and the whole team knew the answer
"All of us are used with El," Quant admitted
"Raise your hand if you've played with Rio before the recent match," Bright said and only Opal and Key raised their hands
The only match that Opal played with Rio was their match against Alexei, Quant, El, and Rasheed with Key and that's it.
He usually plays with El or Key, but not Rio or Alexei.
"Of course, all of you have played with El before." Bright said and they were all quiet
"Rio, what are your thoughts about the recent game?" Dewy asked Rio
"I couldn't connect with everyone, I couldn't catch up with their pacing, I was a drag – You're not answering the question." Rasheed cut him off and Rio sighed
"It was a failure," Rio said with a disappointed expression
"Why was it a failure?" Dewy asked them
"El, Alexei, any thoughts as an audience?" Bright asked the two who were in the base
"In the first game, you guys were able to stand and defend as much as you can," El said
"But, you lost your pace and teamwork in the final game. You all moved independently, without communication. It was as if you weren't a team." Alexei said
"What else did you notice?" Bright asked
"Key," El said and they all looked at Key who has a calm expression but her hands clenched in a fist
"What were you doing?" Alexei asked and Key looked at them as if asking what he meant
"What about Key in the game?" Dewy asked the two
"They seem to have targeted Key." Quant said, recalling how many times Key's shinigami has died
"No, Key looked like she was countering their off-laner like she knew where he would be." El said
"That's not possible unless Key eavesdropped while they're discussing their game tactic." Opal said
"I also noticed that it happened too often in the last game to be a coincidence," Bright said
"She couldn't have eavesdropped because she was with us the whole time," Dewy said
"Say something, Keychantel," Rasheed told Key who just sighed and met their eyes
"Sorry," she said and they were confused
"You did? You know their tactic?" Dewy asked in disbelief and she nodded
"Of course, I'd know," Key said with a small smile then it dropped and she looked at them intently
"All of you do too, you know? Even you, Bright," she added and that made them more confused
"What do you mean?" Bright asked Key who seemed very upset after her statement
"That's what you meant," Rasheed muttered and looked at Key who nodded
"Wait, what do you two mean?" Alexei asked because it seems that Rasheed and Key know something
"It was our tactic, Alexei. Our tactic." Key emphasized her last statement and that made them stop
"What do you mean by that, Key?" Bright asked
"I don't know how they saw or even know about the tactic we used in the training match against Palomas Negras, but it was that very gameplay that they used against us in the last game." Key said with gritted teeth as her eyes continued to redden
"That's can't be, we had a non-disclosure agreement…" Dewy trailed off when Key looked at him
"And what are the clauses of that said agreement, Dewy? No disclosure of how we defeated them? Did it say no sharing of information with other teams? No, that's not what it said, Dewy." Key asked and shook her head, she was showing an expression that is the very opposite of what she usually has
"You didn't specify that they can't go on a live stream while we're training or record the video, it only said that the company cannot disclose the name of the teams that faced off during the training match. That was a loophole that they can't be held responsible for, Dewy." Key said with her eyes closed
"Excuse me," Key said and stood up
They were all in disbelief because of what Key had said that they didn't get to stop her or ask her where she was going when she excused herself and left the living room.
"Where are you going, Dewy?" El asked Dewy when he stood up
"I'm going to inform the management, this is not fair. That's cheating!" Dewy said and clenched his fist
"Key said it herself, they can't be held responsible," Alexei said
They knew that if there was anyone in that room that can understand how the non-disclosure agreement works and would be capable of seeing the loopholes of the agreement, it would be her because Key took up and passed the licensure exams for law.
"They'll just consider it the same as those gameplay videos we use to analyze our opponents before a match, it's not cheating," Rasheed said they all fell silent
If anything, it's their fault for not clarifying what exactly they want with the non-disclosure agreement.
"That's why she had their expression," El realized
After the match, Key's expression was very different from everyone's when the team arrived at the base.
While everyone seem gloomy and saddened by the defeat, Key's eyes reflected raging anger that her calm composure couldn't even cover up her expression.
They all headed up to their rooms after the evaluation didn't end well, when they walked past Key's room, they heard her talking to someone in another language.
Inside the room, Key is talking to Veloce and Brilla, relaying instructions on her retaliation to the use of the agreement's loophole.
[So, let me get this straight, mere-primogenitrice, you want us to stir up their secret trash bin, right? And, if anything, we are allowed to spread the mess as large as we want to?] Brilla, with her tone revealing her excitement, said in Greek
[Did we understand your request correctly, mere? Also, if we do this, we'll be allowed to stay in Maddorido as long as we like, right?] Veloce also asked in Greek with his thick accent
"Yes, that's right." Key replied in Greek with her eyes glinting brightly along the flickering mischief
[Skepsou oti egine, Mere.] The two replied in chorus, which satisfied Key
"Tha perimeno ta nea," Key replied and ended the call before she called the other troublemaker situated in Delcruss
"Sfentami," Key said as soon as the call was picked and the person on the screen bowed
[How can I be of service to you, mere-primogenitrice?] Sfentami immediately asked in German
"Have you received the file I sent you?" Key asked in German with her accent
[Yes, mere, I await your permission to begin.] Sfentami replied in German
"Begin," it was spoken in English but Sfentami immediately smiled
[Ich werde dich nicht enttauschen.] Sfentami said and bowed
"I do hope so, Sfentami," Key said and ended the call
After the call, Key sat on her bed.
Despite the fact that she already had given the troublemakers orders that will surely lead to meeting all the arrangements needed for the retaliation she wants, the coldness within her is still seeping out to her skin.
She clenched her fist, she wants to get even, and getting even is the only way to extinguish the flaring black fire within her.
She closed her eyes and let herself lie on the bed, her mind is in turmoil because of what happened.
Key didn't feel the time passing, as time really didn't matter for someone immortal like her, and by the time she sat up again, two hours have already passed.
She reached for her phone and searched for the nearest lounge, different from the lounge where she and Poupee had their drinks.
After finding the nearest lounge that is serving the kind of drink she wanted, she stood up and went to her closet.
She changed into a pair of black skinny jeans and a black shirt, then, she took her purse and phone before she went out of her room.
When she arrived in the living room, no one was there but she saw Dewy and Bright on the counter, they were both holding a can of juice, and they seem to be drinking. Key recognized those as a drink with 5% alcohol content.
"I'm going out," Key told them and they turned to look at her
"Where are you going?" Bright asked and Key gave them a sweet smile
"Just taking a breather outside," she said and they nodded
***
Skepsou oti egine, Mere. - Consider it done, Mere.
Tha perimeno ta nea, - I'll be awaiting the news,
Ich werde dich nicht enttauschen. -I will not disappoint you.